Wood Fired Ceramics by Bill Perrine (Split-Fire Pottery)

[T-session]

I got a couple more....



and



and



I think it was a great firing!

[T-session]

Hi everyone,
Here's some of what I've been doing lately. Adding on to the kiln sheds. A 6 ft extension on the gabled part and a 16 ft extension on the shed roof. I have framed in an opening for a possible gas kiln (chimney) someday. It will allow me a chance to offer beautiful pieces with less work/expense. After paying income taxes, subtracting material cost and wood preparation time and costs this past year, I barely broke even...
You may have noticed I've had to raise my prices to make wood-firing worth it. I found out my break down is approximately this: I'm paying about 30+% to commissions/entry fees/ materials/gasoline/etc, 30% to income tax, and I end up making up to $8 dollars (40%) on a $20 sale! I hope you still find them exceptionally beautiful and worth it.







Now I'll have more wood storage room and a possible gas kiln someday, room for workshop classes and room for my wood-kiln rebuild later this summer.
Cheers,
Bill

[T-session]

Hi all,
I am now officially retired!! 33 years of teaching art to inner city students... done!! I have busy getting ready to fire again, I'm figuring 3 weeks. Lots and lots of tea bowls and many teapots, including some bigger ones- closer to 20-30 oz. Then I will have a lot of ware for my shows this summer. I'm doing two new ones. Then I will be rebuilding my kiln's shape and increasing it's size. I'll get more per firing, lowering costs for each piece. A good thing for some. It's new shape will give me more of the "best stuff".
I'll post some pics soon.
Till then,
Cheers!

[Chip]

Hi there, Mr. Bill! Congratulations on your retirement.

Looking forward to seeing what new things you are up to.

[T-session]

Hi there, Mr. Bill! Congratulations on your retirement.

Looking forward to seeing what new things you are up to.

Thanks Chip! It's been as hectic as expected, getting in all the paperwork, etc.
Been busy getting lots of work bisqued for glazing. I might have enough for two firings!
Here is a quick pic of the teapots not in the kiln right now cooling off from yesterday's bisque firing.



These will go in with the next batch of work. Then the glazing cycle will start and then on to the wood kiln.
Cheers,
Bill

[T-session]

I had a really nice article done on me and my work with the Tully clay I use with my tea ware in the Syracuse Post Standard yesterday. I made the front cover of the CNY section! I have attached a link:

http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2012/07/hi ... ly_mu.html

[debunix]

Excellent.

[T-session]

Excellent.

Thank you debunix

[Chip]

Wow, that is great, Bill! Hope it helps build your now "full time" work!

[T-session]

Wow, that is great, Bill! Hope it helps build your now "full time" work!

Thanks Chip, I couldn't believe how much coverage/press I got!! I am in a big show at the end of the month and they timed it perfectly for me. It's been in the works since last year. I should get quite a bump out of it for a while. Definitely a great start for the new job! Hope all is well with you and yours.
Bill

[Charlotte_J]

That is really nice to see your facilities, It looks like a very very pretty environment

[T-session]

That is really nice to see your facilities, It looks like a very very pretty environment

Thank you Charlotte, I keep adding and updating all the time. Doing it while I can, I'm not getting any younger! I have a studio addition planned for the future. I talked my wife into giving up some of her exercise room to me so that I can increase my production now that I'm retired. I have a very efficient studio now, approx. 14" x 16. I will be able to add on approx. 50 sq. ft.
On another note... I posted about the fantastic article that was written about me and my use of Tully clay (a local clay from a disaster many years ago) and today I got an email from Syracuse's Everson Museum docent.

Hello Mr. Perrine,
The Docent Organization of the Everson Museum very much enjoys field trips.
Your article in Sunday's paper piqued our curiosity and I have been looking at
your web site. Your kiln and your clay from the Tully slide are unique. Would
you consider hosting a visit to your studio? There would probably be about
15-20 at most. I understand that you teach during the school year, and we are
unable to come during the summer, due to other commitments. Let me know your
schedule and if this appeals to you at all.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Ginny Frey

Wow! I was glad to be able to tell her I retired and could have them out during the school year!
I'm firing in 2 days, I'll post the progress,
Cheers,
Bill

[T-session]

I am at an art show in Syracuse. Here is my booth with my mom and wife sitting in the back.



More from my recent firing...

[paul haigh]

Livin the dream! Good for you!

That open kiln looks great- looks like a spectacular firing.

[T-session]

I have started the rebuild of my manabigama. I am carefully taking down everything, cleaning all the bricks up and then I am going to rebuild a new, bigger and better kiln. I have a few pictures of the start... of the physical part, as I have been designing, planning and researching for over a year now.



Took the pavers and insulation off the right side.



Saving the kaowool blanket!



Now I added a temporary support (the cover sheet from the steel roof order for the kiln shed extension) for the bricks. Once I start taking out the key bricks, the catenary arch, which is self supporting, will fall in. I don't want them to break or chip, super duty's are not cheap!



Temporary supports.



Almost done with the bricks but still need to take down the pavers below.



Temporary support removed leaving the base section.